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Death for Bali's `smiling bomber'

Indonesian Muslim militant Amrozi gives the thumbs-up sign after he was convicted and sentenced to death for his role in last year's Bali bombings yesterday. PHOTO: REUTERS

Tears flowed and survivors applauded in an Indonesian court yesterday as a judge sentenced Muslim militant Amrozi to death for last October's Bali bombings that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.

But others expressed fears the man dubbed the smiling bomber would become a martyr, encouraging more Muslims to take to the path of violence.

A group of survivors of the blast that tore through two nightclubs on the Indonesian resort island of Bali in October 2002 wept and embraced relatives in the courtroom after the sentence was read out.

"We are so relieved that finally one person got the death penalty and hope the rest do as soon as possible," said Natalie Juniardi, an Australian mother of two toddlers whose Indonesian husband was killed in the blast at the Sari club.

She said the verdict had given her a sense of release.

"I got out my anger in the end, which has been building up for a long time," she said.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard told reporters in Sydney that justice had been done.

"I hope that this verdict provides some sense of comfort to those who lost their loved ones in this tragedy," Howard said.

Dubbed the smiling bomber, Amrozi had giggled with delight when talking about the bombing, shocking and angering people around the world.

In Sydney, survivors and relatives of victims welcomed the verdict, but there was mixed reaction to the sentence of death.

"I believe it will make him a martyr," Australian Brian Deegan, who's son Josh was killed in Bali, told reporters.

"There is going to be a lot of repeats of Tuesday night," he said, referring to a car bomb that killed at least 10 people at a hotel in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

"Allahu Akbar," cried a defiant Amrozi, a 40-year-old mechanic from nearby Java island, punching the air as the chief judge read out the verdict. He turned to the gallery and gave a broad smile and a thumbs up with both hands.

Listening to the court proceedings in his home village of Lamongan on Java island, Amrozi's family sat in subdued silence.

"It is so unfair ... As Amrozi stayed in prison, bombs are still exploding in Jakarta," said his elder sister Tasmiah.

"Everything has been orchestrated. I do not believe Amrozi is capable of making bombs that big."
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